Uganda Airlines faces a critical juncture, according to veteran aviation journalist Micheal Wakabi, who has called for a comprehensive overhaul and greater operational autonomy for the state-owned carrier.
Speaking to Canary Mugume during Next Big Talk on Next Radio on Tuesday, Wakabi said the national airline cannot rely on quick fixes.
“I don’t think there is a quick fix for Uganda Airlines. The airline needs to undergo deep restructuring. A lot needs to be done to fix management in order for the system to work,” he said, highlighting systemic issues affecting governance, staffing, and accountability.
Wakabi said public perception and ownership concerns have weighed heavily on Uganda Airlines’ corporate image, noting that restoring stakeholder confidence is as important as structural reforms.
Despite these challenges, he acknowledged some positive developments.
“If you look at the market share of Uganda Airlines in traffic out of Entebbe, I think they are now the biggest carrier operating from Entebbe,” he said, reflecting growth in passenger volumes since the airline’s revival in 2019.
The airline, re-established as a national flagship project to boost tourism, trade, and regional connectivity, has invested heavily in modern aircraft, including Bombardier CRJ900 and Airbus A330-800neo jets, positioning Entebbe to reclaim its place as an viation hub.
However, repeated Auditor General reports and investigations have flagged procurement irregularities, governance gaps, inadequate staff structures, and inconsistent management standards.
Wakabi also cited centralized decision-making in government as a hindrance to operational efficiency.
“It is unfortunate that in Uganda we have vested so much power in the President, with so many appointments made by the President. This creates a problem when the wrong decisions are made,” he said, pointing to political interference as a core factor undermining accountability in state-owned enterprises.
Wakabi emphasized the need for full independence for Uganda Airlines.
“The fundamental issue is that when you interfere with the operations of an airline, you essentially take accountability away from the airline. They end up blaming you for their failures. My view is that the airline should be given full independence,” he said.
The call for reform comes amid recent high-level changes at the airline. On February 13, 2026, President Museveni directed the appointment of Ethiopian aviation executive Girma Wake as Chief Executive of Uganda Airlines in an interim capacity, citing “current leadership and management weaknesses.”
Wake, who transformed Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s most profitable carrier during his tenure as CEO from 2004 to 2011, will serve until a substantive CEO is appointed in July 2026.
The directive also required the immediate stepping aside of the current CEO, Jenifer Bamuturaki, whose tenure had come under scrutiny due to repeated Auditor General reports highlighting weak governance, the absence of an approved staff establishment, salary disparities, and financial losses.
In 2024, Bamuturaki appeared before Parliament’s COSASE committee as part of oversight proceedings.
Wake brings decades of aviation experience, having joined Ethiopian Airlines in 1965 and steadily rising through the ranks.
His leadership saw fleet modernization, international route expansion, and strengthened corporate governance systems. He also served as Board Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines from 2022 to June 2023 and was previously Chairman of RwandAir’s board from 2012 to 2017.
Sources within government and the aviation sector indicate that Wake’s appointment signals a renewed focus on insulating Uganda Airlines from inefficiencies and restoring commercial discipline while a global search for a substantive CEO continues.
For Wakabi, the appointment is an opportunity but not a substitute for systemic reform.
“If Uganda Airlines is to survive and thrive, it must undergo deep restructuring. Leadership, governance, and independence are non-negotiable if the airline is to operate professionally and sustainably,” he concluded.
The next few months are expected to determine whether Uganda Airlines can transition from a struggling national project into a professionally managed and commercially viable carrier capable of competing regionally and internationally.